The number of objects launched from the USA is now more than 5,000% higher than a decade ago, with the increase largely driven by private spaceflight ventures, according to new research.
Without adequate decay and deorbiting processes, this expansion will mean a further build-up of space debris, heightening the risk of major collisions in orbit. The findings come from Blueshift, a company that makes thermal protection systems for spacecraft and other mission-critical industries.
The Blueshift report identifies which operators and nations account for the largest share of objects launched into orbit, debris currently in orbit, and debris re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Commercial space companies are now responsible for most launches from the USA, with SpaceX alone accounting for more than 80% of them.
In total, 2,226 American payloads were placed into orbit in 2024, compared with just 43 in 2014. The research also highlights the increasing volume of space debris re-entering Earth’s atmosphere from decayed objects.
The USA, Russia and China together account for more than 90% of tracked debris re-entries over the past decade, according to the report. Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist and space sustainability analyst, said an average of one to two Starlink satellites returned to Earth each day in 2025.
Recent estimates from the European Space Agency suggest there are more than 1.2 million pieces of debris between 0.4in (1cm) and 4in (10cm) in orbit, along with more than 50,000 larger objects exceeding 4in (10cm), each capable of damaging or destroying a spacecraft on impact.
Despite growing concern over the space debris problem, Blueshift said SpaceX has demonstrated an industry-leading approach to satellite design and deorbiting activity. The company’s Starlink satellites are engineered to deorbit within five years, less than the standard 25-year guideline, and are built for complete disintegration on re-entry, minimizing debris reaching Earth.
“The growth in launch activity alone is astonishing,” said Tim Burbey, co-founder and president of Blueshift, “but what goes into orbit doesn’t simply disappear, as a defunct satellite isn’t just dead weight, it’s a potential collision waiting to happen.
“The ESA has warned that the current rate of space debris creation will increase the risk of major collisions by more than four times. Our research confirms that payload launches and debris creation are continuing to climb considerably.
“The industry already has the analysis tools to understand the problem, but there is still a design-culture gap between building spacecraft to perform well in orbit and building them to disappear safely afterward. The biggest gap is that satellites are still mostly optimized to survive launch, thermal cycling, radiation, and years of reliable operation in orbit, while safe end-of-life burnup often rewards the opposite traits: lower-melting materials, earlier breakup, less shielding of dense internals, and less ‘survivable’ joints and packaging.”
